Shaped label strip for use in label printing apparatus



March-31, 1970 c. SCHROTER 3,503,834

SHAPED LABEL STRIP FOR USE IN LABEL PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR W fb-ZWAP March 31, 1970 c. SCHROTER 3,503,834

SHAPED LABEL STRIP FOR USE IN LABEL PRINTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1965 IN VE N TOR United States Patent Int. Cl. B3l2b 3/16 US. Cl. 16138 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention consists of a strip of shaped labels, said strip having at least one sinusoidal longitudinal edge for sensory engagement with a label printing apparatus. Each individual label in the strip has a pair of long edges transverse to the strip and a pair of shorter edges forming seg-' ments of the longitudinal edges of the strip, at least one of said shorter edges of each label having one arcuately curved projection. The label strip has a carrier web, and several strips may be formed adjacently on the same car rier web. The individual labels are generally rectangular, except for the sinusoidal edges, and may be in the shape of parallelograms, trapezoids, or other shapes.

The present invention relates to labels. More specifically, it relates to adhesive-coated labels which adhere to one side of a carrier strip. Still more specifically, the present invention relates to labels of the type mentioned above which are provided with means for controlling the operation of a label dispensing or printing apparatus through which they move, so as to insure that the apparatus will perform its predetermined functions only when each label is in accurate registry with the respective device which is to act upon it.

The invention constitutes a further development of, and an improvement over a feature set forth in the copending application of Wilhelm Voight et al. Ser. No. 347,601, filed Feb. 26, 1964, and entitled Label Dispenser, now Patent No. 3,425,346 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

As set forth in the above-mentioned prior application it is known to control advancement of a web carrying a plurality of consecutively arrayed labels through a labeldispensing or printing machine by providing the respective labels with consecutive unevenesses which are sensed by a sensing member and cause the sensing member to control operation of the advancing means provided for the web. This is necessary so that, for example in labelprinting machines, the respective labels will register precisely with the imprinting device before the same is actuated to insure that the text to be imprinted on the label is properly centered thereon. The sensing means may be of the optical type or it may utilize mechanical sensing members. Actuation of the sensing means can be accomplished in various ways, including utilization for this purpose of the space between successive labels, protuberances or recesses stamped into the labels, apertures formed in the labels, and similar arrangements.

However, all of the previously known Ways of providing the labels with a sensor-actuating arrangement have suffered from various drawbacks. For example, if the space between successive labels was utilized as the sensoractuating means, that is if the sensor reacted to the difference in thickness between the points where the labels overlie the carrier and the points where the labels are spaced from one another so that the sensor will feel only 3,503,834 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 the thickness of the carrier alone, it is necessary that the labels be stamped out of the label-forming layer which is superimposed on the carrier, and that the resulting grid of waste material be subsequently removed so as to clearly offset the labels from one another on the carrier, since otherwise the sensor will not be able to function. Naturally, this is an operation which requires additional equipment and results in the loss of raw material.

. On the other hand, if the successive labels are not spaced from one another, but are instead provided with respective embossments so as to form proturberances or recesses therein, the depth or height of of such embossments can only be very slight so that the sensing means is often unable to accurately react to engagement with these embossments. Also, pressure on the labels, for instance when the web is rolled up and stored until used, can partially or completely erase such embossments. Finally, these embossments do not contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the labels.

In view of what has been said before it is a general object of the present invention to overcome the outlined drawbacks.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide labels which are formed in such a manner that a sensing device in a label-dispensing or printing machine will be reliably actuated.

Still a more specific object of the invention is to provide labels of the type mentioned above whose marginal configuration is such that the label-margin itself actuates the sensing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide such labels which can be stamped from a label-forming web or layer without any losses of raw material.

In accordance with the above objects one feature of the present invention resides in the provision, in a novel article of manufacture for use in label dispensing and printing apparatus, of a web which comprises a first layer including an elongated carrier-strip member, and a second layer which includes a label-forming elongated tapemember adhering to one side of the carrier-strip member, these members both having respective pairs of lateral marginal portions and at least one of these marginal portions of at least one of the members being provided with a plurality of alternating projections and indentations, such projections being equally spaced in longitudinal direction of the respective member.

Thus, the marginal portions can be shaped in various ways, for example in a wavy line with alternating hills and valleys of identical magnitude, in a zig-zag line, or in variousother ways. The important point is that the projecting portion, which of course always extends laterally outwardly in the general plane of the web, is provided on the respective labels at identical positions so that the sensing member will always react when the respective label has reached a certain predetermined position in the dispensing or printing apparatus. The thus-formed projections and recesses in the marginal portions can actuate sensing means of.various different types, for example sensing members which have a portion riding along the edge of the respective label in engagement with the edge, and wherein the sensing member responds to inward or outward deflection by the configuration of the label edge by stopping and starting the advancing mechanism of the apparatus.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top-plan view of an embodiment of the invention, including a possible arrangement of sensing members;

FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 and shows still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows yet a further embodiment of the invention in a view similar to that of the preceding figures;

FIG. 5 is a top-plan View of still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is still a further embodiment of the invention in a top-plan view.

As shown in FIG. 1 the invention comprises a web 1 which consists of a carrier 2 of any suitable material and a plurality of successively arrayed, but not spaced labels 3 which adhere to one side of the carrier 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the lateral marginal portions of the web 1 are cut, stamped or otherwise formed with an undulating configuration which in this case has the form of a wavy line 4. Each line 4 defines alternating recesses 5 and projections 6 in the web 1 in such a manner that the base of each projection 6 coincides exactly in length with the length of the lateral marginal portion of the labels 3 which are separated from one another along the transverse severing lines 7. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the arrangement is such that the projecting portions on opposite sides of the labels 3 are directly opposite one another with their farthest-projecting points coinciding with the middle of the respective labels 3. This, it will be appreciated, has the advantage that the width of each label is greatest at its middle where the most prominent part of the message will be imprinted.

An apparatus for imprinting and dispensing such labels has been shown in the abovementioned copending application. FIG. 1 of the present application therefore shows in an exemplary manner only one possible arrangement for the sensing means through which the configuration of the web margins controls the operation of such apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1 there may be provided a pair of sensing members 8 on opposite sides of the web 1 and each provided with a long arm 8a carrying a roller 9 which rides on the respective edge of the web 1, and a short arm 8b which carries at its end a movable electrical contact 11 which cooperates with a stationary contact 11'. The members 8 are pivotable about a pivot point 8'. A spring 10 lightly urges each member into engagement of its roller 9 with the respective edge of the web 1.

The operation of this device will be clear from the drawing and the disclosure. As the web 1 advances through the machine in the direction of the arrow A, the rollers 9 follow the sinuous contour of the respective margins of the web. Assuming, now, that the apparatus is to perform its predetermined function when the rollers 9 have been outwardly deflected by the projections 6 t the maximum extent possible, it will be clear that the sensing members 8 must be so arranged that contact is broken by movement of the contact 11 away from its counterpart 11 when the rollers 9 have been outwardly deflected to the maximum possible extent. At this moment the web advancing device will cease to advance the web further and imprinting or dispensing of the label can proceed. Upon completion of this operation the webadvancing device will again be actuated in a manner which forms no part of this invention and the web will resume its travel in the direction of arrow A. The rollers 9, being urged into engagement with the edge of Web 1, will follow the edge and move into the recess which succeeds the respective projection 6, the electrical contacts 11, 11' having been brought into engagement again immedia ely upon resu ption of forward motion of the web. Subsequently, the rollers 9 will again be deflected by the next-following projection 6 and the entire process described before will be repeated.

FIG. 2 shows how a plurality of strips of labels shaped in accordance with the invention can be obtained from a single label-forming tape without waste of raw material. The carrier is designated in this figure with reference numeral 14 and the label-forming tape with reference numeral 15. Reference numerals 1A, 1B and 10 indicate the respective strips of labels 3 and reference numeral 4 indicates the undulating lines along which the labelforrning tape 15but not the carrier 14is slit. It is clear from this figure that the projections 5 of the labels of one strip are situated between the recesses of adjacent labels of the neighboring strip so that there is no loss of raw material, that is of the label-forming tape 15. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention the tape 15 does not adhere to the carrier 14 at those portions along which the undulating lines 4 are to be formed so that, after formation of these lines 4, the marginal portions of the respective labels will be slightly raised above the general plane of the tape 15 so as to permit engagement of these marginal portions by the sensing members Which need, of course, not engage these marginal portions in lateral direction as shown in FIG. 1 but can also, for example, engage them vertically.

FIG. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the invention in which the undulating line has the shape of a zig-zag line 4. To facilitate movement of the rollers 9 of the sensing members, it is desirable that the corners 18 defined by this zig-zag line 4 be slightly rounded.

FIGS. 4 through 6 show further embodiments of the invention and it is not believed thata detailed discussion of these figures is necessary to their proper understanding. It will be evident from FIG. 4 that there is also contemplated an embodiment in which only one marginal portion of the successively arrayed labels is provided with the sensor-actuating configuration. Again, as in the case of the previously described embodiments, the tape advantageously will not adhere to the underlying carrier in the area designated with reference numeral 23 and representing the marginal portions of the respective labels, on that side of the labels which is provided with the undulating configuration. This is advantageous not only for purposes of permitting engagement of the sensing members with the edge of the labels, but also facilitates later removal of labels from labeled objects since the non-adhesive marginal portion will not adhere to the respective object, and since it will therefore be easy to grasp this portion and remove the label.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the sinuous line which defines a trapezoidal shape of the labels while FIG. 6 defines parallelogram-shaped labels. The particular configurations shown here are a matter of aesthetics and of the particular type of imprinting to be used on the labels.

It will be clear from what has been said heretofore that the present invention achieves its aim of providing labels whose shape alone, without the need for embossmerits, perforations and other means, serves to control sensors which actuate label dispensing or label printing devices.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of labels differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a label, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the stand-. point of prior ar fairly ons itute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. As a novel article of manufacture for use in label dispensing and printing apparatus, a 'web comprising a first layer including an elongated carrier-strip member; and a second layer including an elongated tape member composed of a row of adjacent substantially rectangular individual labels each having a pair of opposite longer and a pair of opposite shorter edges, said labels being arranged with said longer edges of adjacent labels extending parallel to each other and transversely to the longitudinal direction of said row of labels and with said shorter edges extending in longitudinal direction of said row of labels, at least one of each of said opposite shorter edges having a sinusoidal shape so that all said sinusoidal shorter edges form a continuous line of sinuous form composed of a plurality of alternating arcuately curved projections and arcuately curved indentations, said arcuately curved projections being spaced so that each of said sinusoidal shorter edges of each of said individual labels is provided with one arcuately curved projection.

2, An article as defined in claim 1; further comprising an additional tape member composed of an additional row of labels similar to said first-mentioned row and extending in parallelism therewith; and wherein said rows are longitudinally offset with reference to one another so that the projections of the labels of one row extend into the indentations of the other row.

3. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said labels are of parallelogram-shaped outline.

4. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said shorter edges of each of said labels is not adhered to said carrier-strip member so as to facilitate removal of the respective labels from said carrier-strip member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,743,753 5/1956 Graves et al. 2,095,437 10/1937 Fox 161--l49 X 2,530,319 11/1950 Young 83333 X 3,130,984 4/1964 Fenberg 1613 8 X ROBERT F. BURNETT, Primary Examiner W. W. SCHWARZE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R, 

